Reviving Bloom (Bloom Daniels Series)

by michelle turner

  “What were you and Tucker talking about?” I decide to change the subject.

  He releases me from his arms and says, “We really need to go start breakfast.”

  “Pike, this sharing goes both ways.” I step back and glare up at him.

  “Okay, okay. Let’s go into the kitchen and I’ll tell you while we’re fixing breakfast,” He agrees then guides me to the kitchen.

  I gather the ingredients to make pancakes and he assists by sitting on a stool at the island to watch me. I place the milk on the counter and tell him, “Get to sharing, Tennessee.”

  His elbow is propped up on the counter so his head can rest on his hand, but at my words he straightens and sighs.

  “Kyran caused a huge scene at the bar last night.”

  When he doesn’t explain any further I push, “What else? You already told me about that part last night.”

  “Well, he got to hollerin’ at the people at the bar. Goin’ on about how you’re here to cause the pack problems and tear us apart. A couple of the pack members at the bar tried to calm him down but he took a swing at them, which lead to the whole bar ending up in a fight. Tuck, said that about half of the tables and chairs in the place were destroyed. Not to mention all the bottles of alcohol that was smashed and need to be paid for.”

  “Is everyone okay?”

  “Darlin’, they’re shifters. They heal fast so that’s not a problem and really neither is the damage, we’ll have the money taken out of Kyran’s account to pay for that. The problem is he got away from Tuck in all the uproar and he hasn’t returned to his suite.”

  “He’s probably somewhere sobering up.”

  “I wish you were right, but us shifters don’t really get drunk darlin’ so he wasn’t hammered when he caused that mess and I doubt his feelings have changed where you’re concerned.”

  “You can’t get drunk?” I ask shocked.

  “Nope, our metabolism burns off the alcohol too fast for it to affect us.”

  “Dang, do you think mine works that way too?” Hmm, so much I can do with that.

  Heck yeah, it’s party time. Finally my wolf and I agree on something.

  “Not sure, but I don’t want you going and trying to get plastered just to test it either.”

  Dang! My wolf and I say in unison.

  “Oh alright,” I begrudgingly agree. “Anyways, if the bar brawl isn’t such a big deal then why do you look like you want to skin someone alive.”

  I dig through the cabinets to find the mixing bowls then I start to sift together the dry ingredients. When we came up with the idea of meeting with the Elders over breakfast Pike asked me make a list of groceries I’d need to cook for everyone (his fridge had been bare except for a carton of spoiled milk). I decided to fix blueberry pancakes, sausage, bacon, and some fresh fruit. He took my list and gave it to one of the pack members to pick up while we were getting ready for the pack meeting.

  “Bloom, this is serious. He might try to hurt you.” Pike pounds his fists on the island in frustration. I look up from sifting and see he now has a death grip on edge of the island. The nails on his hands have elongated into claws and are digging into the wood.

  I look into his eyes and try to sooth him, “Tennessee, I’m his sister he won’t hurt me. He may be confused by everything that’s going on right now, but I don’t believe for a second he’ll hurt me.”

  He holds my eyes, “I heard your thoughts when you met him, darlin’. You saw anger and darkness and if last night was any indication that ain’t gonna go away.”

  “Pike, we don’t know if we can trust my gut,” I plead.

  He looks away, takes a deep breath and releases it before he meets my eyes again, “He took a broken bottle to Tucks stomach last night. Thankfully, it wasn’t deep and we heal fast so Tuck’s alright, but if he’d do that to one of his own brothers. He’d definitely hurt you and I’m not gonna allow it.” Pikes words feel like a kick to my own stomach and I feel as if I can’t breathe.

  “Tuck …” I gasp.

  “Darlin’, I told you he’s fine, but he agrees with me on keeping you away from Kyran.”

  “How are you going to do that?” His claws recede back into his fingertips and his face softens as he begins explaining the plan to me.

  “We’re banning him from the pack house and we’re not letting you out in town without a guard. After the Elders leave I’m meeting with Tuck and other men of the pack and we’re setting up a guard rotation.”

  He scans my face. I know he’s waiting for me to blow up. Hell, I want to blow up, but because I can feel him through our bond I know it upsets him to place these limits on me. So instead of screaming and accusing him of treating me like a prisoner, I take a deep breath and let it out then say, “Okay.”

  He gets up off his stool and comes to my side of the island. He kisses me gently then whispers, “Thank you darlin’.”

  “You can thank me by starting the bacon and sausage. We don’t have long until everyone will be here and you bought enough meat to feed a small country.” I push him towards the fridge that is holding the meat.

  “Not a small country darlin’, just a small group of hungry wolves.” He turns from gathering the packages in the fridge to grin at me.

  I roll my eyes at him and turn back to the island to start cracking the eggs. I hear him chuckle at me and send up a silent prayer of thanks that he’s calmed down. For a second I thought I was going to have to hold him back from hunting Kyran down. My little brother is turning out to be a pain in my ass and if I didn’t have to worry about keeping Pike and Tucker from ripping him apart I’d kill him myself.

  We’re sitting at the large table in the dining room off the living room. We finished breakfast an hour ago and just moments ago Pike and I finished telling the Elders the story of Rose and Dad’s relationship, my growing up with no knowledge of shifters, to Pike finding me and what all has happened since. I take in the faces sitting around us. All ten have the same expression, confusion mixed with a whole lot of concern.

  I start to think they’ve slipped into a bacon induced coma (they ate every last piece of what seemed like 10 pounds of bacon we cooked) and I’m wondering if I’ll have to call around to find a doctor who specializes in reviving wolf-shifters from such ailments when Elder Andrews wife Lilith speaks up.

  “Have you always been able to feel your wolf?” She’s inspecting me closely with those striking violet eyes and I have to stop myself from squirming under her gaze.

  “Um … I didn’t notice her until Pike came into the picture, but I think she’s always been there just not as prominent as she is now.” I hope that doesn’t sound insane to her, but it’s the truth. I have been thinking about my wolf a lot lately and the more I reflect back on my life the more I realize she has been in the background guiding me. But she has become a lot more vocal since Pike came into our life.

  “Hmm that is curious,” she mumbles as she exchanges a look with Elder Isla. I look between the two of them expecting one of them to speak what’s running through their minds but neither speaks up.

  “Please, if you have any idea what’s going on don’t keep it to yourselves,” Pike begs apparently having caught the exchange between the two women.

  “Pike, it’s obvious why your mate’s wolf has become more active since finding you, but I don’t know of anything that would be keeping her locked inside,” Isla semi explains.

  “Why is she more active?” I ask watching Isla. She has her beautiful wavy hair pinned back at the sides with the rest falling loosely down her back. At my question she gives me a smile but it doesn’t meet her eyes.

  “My dear, isn’t it obvious?” She asks back. I shake my head and she responds, “Bloom, you met your mate and his wolf is calling yours out. Just like Pike wants to be near you, his wolf longs to be near your wolf. So he’s pulling her out of you.”

  “Do you think being around Pike when he actually shifts into his wolf will cause me to finally shift?” I ask trying to
keep the hope out of my voice. Pike takes my hand and laces his fingers through mine for support while we wait to see what Isla’s response will be.

  “You’ve been around him in his wolf form and when he shifted back to his human form. If I understand correctly that is when his wolf started calling to yours. So being with him when he shifts to his wolf might be the final step you need to take to release her,” Isla answers.

  I look over at Pike and through our connection he says, “If you want, darlin’, we can try.”

  “Tonight?”

  He chuckles at my enthusiasm and answers, “Yeah, we can try tonight.”

  I smile at him and then turn my attention back to the elders who are watching us intently with smiles on their faces.

  “I always love watching the newly mated. It’s such a beautiful thing to watch fate bring together two souls who are clearly made for each other. Especially when those two souls are healing each others wounds like you two happen to be doing,” Shea Burke remarks watching us then swinging her eyes to her husband, Elder Cathal, asks, “Do you remember when you realized we were mates?”

  I watch as the older wolfs imposing features soften and his eyes glimmer as he looked at his mate. He brushes her hair away from her temple and leans into kiss her there then answers, “Like it was yesterday. Your hair was pulled up on your head and you were wearing that oversized sweatshirt that hung off one side of your shoulders. You didn’t have a scratch of make-up on your face and you smelled like lemonade. The moment I saw you I knew I’d never seen anyone more beautiful and I still haven’t.”

  She is beaming at her mate’s recollection of their first encounter. She leans into him and whispers, “I couldn’t get over how much you smelled like leather.”

  “What’s up with the scents?” I ask Pike through our bond. I’m still watching Shea & Cathal as I speak to him. It’s reassuring to see them still so in love years after they first became mated. It gives me hope for Pike and my mating.

  “It’s what draws a shifter to his or her mate. Only your mate can smell it and it’s always something unique to them. It can also help you to find your mate if they were to go missing,” he explains.

  “And what do I smell like to you?” I ask shyly. I hope I don’t smell like something gross, as much as I love Billy’s pizza I don’t want it to be the thing Pike smells every time he’s around me.

  He leans in and smells my neck, “Strawberries and cedar,” then he kisses his favorite freckle on my neck and pulls back to ask, “What do I smell like to you?”

  I run my hand through his black hair and answer way to breathy, “Like the forest after a rainstorm.”

  “When can we expect to receive the invitations to your mating ceremony?” Fina asks reminding us we aren’t alone.

  “Umm,” I look at Pike for help.

  “With everything that’s been going on we haven’t had a chance to talk about it,” he explains to them honestly.

  “Now, don’t be dragging your feet. Cementing your bond by doing the ceremony is just as important as everything else that has been happening,” Fina scolds us.

  “I promise Elder Fina as soon as we get the situation with Kyran settled, we will start making the plans,” Pike promises.

  “Good boy, just remember to give us ladies enough notice to find the right outfits.”

  “Will do.” He chuckles at her then his expression turns serious when he says, “We’ve discussed Bloom’s wolf now I’d like to know if any of you have ever heard of a shifter having these gut “feelings”?”

  Everyone shakes their heads no and I have to sigh. I’m surrounded by people who can shift into wolves and I’m the strange one, it’s disheartening.

  Elder Darius speaks up, “We may be looking at this wrong. These “feelings” may not come from your shifter genes. Have you considered that it could be a trait you inherited from your father’s side of the family?”

  “My father never mentioned anything.” I would’ve remembered if he had.

  “It may be worth exploring,” He suggests thinking he’s being helpful.

  “I don’t have any relatives left on my Dad’s side. My grandparents both passed away when I was young. Dad was an only child so no aunts or uncles. He never mentioned having any aunts or uncles himself, I always assumed my grandparents were only children as well,” I explain the situation.

  If Elder Darius is right and my “feelings” come from my father’s side, I may never get the answers I desperately need. The whole situation is taking its toll. I slump into Pike’s side for support and he hooks his arm around my shoulder holding me tight.

  “Bloom, I promise we’ll look into this to see if it could be you’re shifter side. We won’t shut that door until we’re absolutely certain it’s not part of your shifter genes,” Isla vows.

  “Thank you,” I reply softly.

  “You’re welcome. Now I’m going to say something you may not thank me for, but it has to be said.” I watch her, but don’t say anything, as she takes a moment to collect her thoughts. She continues, “I understand that you don’t get along with Rose, but you need to speak with her.”

  How can she suggest that after she heard my history (or lack thereof) with Rose? I open my mouth to respond.

  She holds her hand up to stop me and explains, “I’m not saying become her friend. It’s just that she was with your father for years, which means she was also around your grandparents. She may have experienced them having these “feelings.”

  She’s right, I hate to admit it, but I need my mother for something. Damn!

  I agree to talk to Rose and we thank them all for coming. Once they are all gone Pike offers to help clean up, but I know he has to meet with the men about guard detail. So I tell him to go on, that I can handle the clean up myself. He makes me promise not to leave the suite. I promise and he rewards me with a kiss then turns to walk to the door. I watch him pull out his phone and send a text, then he’s out the door and gone.

  I carry the dirty breakfast dishes into the kitchen, there aren’t any leftovers to put away (the wolves were ravenous) so I rinse the dishes then load them into the dish washer. Once it’s running I wipe down the counters and stove. The floor needs cleaned too so I search for the broom and dustpan then use them to sweep. I’m emptying the dustpan into the trashcan when I hear a knock on the door.

  I set the dustpan beside the trashcan and lean the broom against the counter, then make my way to the door. My hand is on the knob turning it when I double over with the dreadful “feeling” I had that morning coming back full force. The door is pushed open by whoever is on the other side and I’m gripping my stomach still bent double. I look up to apologize for my behavior when the words die on my lips at the sight of Trace standing with Kyran. Neither of them look like they’re here to apologize so I turn and try to run.

  Trace hooks me around my stomach before I get two steps away and says, “Uh-uh my little flower, we have some unfinished business.”

  “Hurry up and knock her out, before she has a chance to contact him,” Kyran growls from behind us.

  “Fine,” Trace grumbles clearly pissed that his play time is being cut short. “I’ll see you soon my little flower.”

  I barely get the chance to yell for Pike through our connection before something is pressed to my neck and everything goes black.

  Chapter 33 – Pike

  ~ Find Him. Kill Him. ~

  The men are gathered in the meeting room and I’m explaining how the guard rotation is going to go when Bloom’s fear hits me full force.

  “PIKE,” she cries out through our bond.

  I don’t even explain myself before I bolt from the room. I don’t have to look behind me to know that the rest of the men are following me, they can feel that something is wrong.

  I bypass the elevators and head straight for the stairs taking them two at a time. Our suite is on the top floor of the seven story building, it had once been a mountain resort, but the pack took it over 50 years
ago and has kept it up to date since. The alphas suite has always been on the top floor, but at a time like this I wish I insisted on it being on the bottom.

  I reach our suite and find the door standing wide open. I know she isn’t there but that doesn’t stop me from tearing through every room to double check. Her scent is strongest in the kitchen from where she’s been in there cleaning and I can’t make myself leave the room. I need her scent around me. I collapse against the island where she had stood hours before mixing up pancake batter and let loose a growl so loud that it shakes the cabinet doors, “GRRRRAAAAHHH.”

  Tucker approaches me slowly and bares his neck. I hadn’t realized till that time that my wolf is in control. My nails have turned into claws and I’m holding on to my human skin by a very thin thread that’s getting ready to snap. He takes in my appearance then says, “Alpha, we found Kyran’s scent by the front door along with Bloom’s and someone else that we can’t recognize.”